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MINISTER IS ACTUALLY ACHIEVING RESULTS. HE IS NOT SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT CHANGE, CHANGES ARE HAPPENING, AND BUSINESSMEN'S ANTENNA ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THESE VIBRATIONS.
9. I AM REPORTING SEPARATELY INITIATIVES THAT HAD EVOLVED DURING THE MINISTER'S EARLIER VISITS. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE SEEN THE PLAN, LIKE IT AND WILL JUDGE ON RESULTS.
10.
TOP PRIORITY MUST CONTINUE TO GO TO THE GUANGZHOU METRO. THE FACT THAT THE MINISTER AND HIS PARTY WERE WELCOMED IN SOUTH CHINA AND THAT THE HONG KONG PROBLEMS WERE NOT MENTIONED HAS MADE A WIDE IMPACT. THAT IS JUST NOT THE WAY THE PUNDITS HAD PAINTED THE CHINESE. TO WIN THE METRO CONTRACT (OR SOME OF THE CONTRACTS) WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT, MORE IMPORTANT EVEN THAN THE UK EXPORTS DIRECTLY INVOLVED.
11.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SIR WILLIAM STONES' NEW ROLE (MY TELNO 2 TO DTI) WILL ALSO FOCUS DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE AND AWAY FROM THE PAST. HE IS A TOWERING FIGURE.
12.
OVER THE LONGER TERM THE BOTB/DTI/ECGD INITIATIVE ON CREDIT IS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE. BY TACKLING THIS MASSIVE MARKET AND ACHIEVING FRESH SUCCESSES WE WILL LEAD OTHER INVESTORS ALONG. I DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OR THE DIFFICULTY OF THE AIRPORT ISSUE BUT THAT WILL NOT BE DECIDED YET. SHELL, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL IN MAY GET THE FEASIBILITY SURVEY ON THEIR DOLLARS 6 BILLION NEW COMPLEX IN GUANGZHOU. THEY FOLLOW CURRENT EVENTS WITH GREAT CONCERN BUT THEY HAVE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM IN THE WORLD FOR JUDGING RISK. SUCCESS WILL BREED SUCCESS: AND THE MORE THAT CAN BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND THE SUMMER THE BETTER THE CHANCES FOR IMPROVING THE GENERAL CLIMATE FOR THE AIRPORT ISSUE.
13.
IN ADDITION TO THE MINISTER'S TALKS THE GOVERNOR GAVE A BRIEFING TO THE ACCOMPANYING GROUP. WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH SENIOR BUSINESS CONTACTS IN PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS: THE ARGUMENTS ARE COMPLEX AND NEED CAREFUL EXPLAINING - CONVERTS SEE THE LIGHT QUITE QUICKLY. THE MINISTER'S VISIT ATTRACTED A HIGH LEVEL OF ATTENTION AND PEOPLE ARE QUEUING UP TO HEAR MORE. HENRY KESWICK AND SIR ADRIAN SWIRE ARE IN TOWN, AS WELL AS NUMBER OF OTHER SENIOR VISITORS FROM UK.
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